The New York Knicks won their 12th straight game against the Toronto Raptors, extending a streak that dates back to 2023. They took down the Raptors 111-95, overcoming Brandon Ingram’s 31-point performance.
New York has dominated Toronto in their head-to-head matchups and now has a healthy five-game lead over their Northern rivals with one month left in the season.
Defense and Brunson Lead the Way
Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 26 points, but it was the New York defense that allowed them to pull away.
Time and time again, New York was able to rotate bodies on the defensive end, forcing the Raptors into low-percentage shots at the end of the shot clock. They held Toronto to just 37 points in the second half, including a season-low 13 fourth-quarter points for the Raptors.
Hot Start Fades as Raptors Go Cold
Toronto got off to a hot start and built a double-digit lead in the first frame after sinking four of their first five attempts from behind the arc. Brandon Ingram went to the bench with 16 points in the first nine minutes of action and finished the half with a season-high 26 points.
However, things quickly got out of hand for New York when the Raptors got ice-cold from three-point land. After their hot start, Toronto went 4-23 in the final 43 minutes of action, which isn’t good enough against a team like the New York Knicks.
Brunson was able to weave his way into the paint early and often, while the Knicks’ consistency from behind the arc allowed them to eventually pull away. Josh Hart was active on both ends of the court with a 12-7-7-3-2 stat line, while Mitchell Robinson’s 10-rebound showing off the bench allowed the Knicks to dominate the glass.
New York was ahead for most of the game, but the Raptors cut the lead to 95-93 with 5:53 left to play. Toronto then allowed the Knicks to go on a 16-2 run to close the game, losing in underwhelming fashion.
Playoff Implications for Both Teams
It is championship or bust for the Knicks, and head coach Mike Brown has done an incredible job of retooling this roster. He has overcome Miles McBride’s injury and still runs a nine-man rotation for the Knicks, a stark comparison to Tom Thibodeau’s starter-heavy rotation last season.
Brunson continues to dominate on offense, and he is surrounded by defensive stars on the other end of the court. New York has now gone 15-4 across their last 19 games, including an 8-2 record on the road after starting the season 8-12 away from Madison Square Garden.
Losing to a team like the New York Knicks isn’t anything to blow the team up over, but the pattern that has emerged for Toronto is troublesome. Their 35-26 record is far better than expected at this stage of the season, but they are 4-16 against teams with better records.
Toronto will likely finish in the fifth or sixth seed when the playoffs roll around, and they need to improve against the top teams if they hope to be anything other than one-and-done. Four of their next six are against teams with better records than them, including a visit to Minnesota tomorrow, giving them another chance to prove they belong among the other East contenders.
The Knicks take on the Thunder tonight before heading out West to take on the Nuggets, Lakers, and Clippers to round out five games in seven days.
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FAQ
Who won the Knicks vs Raptors game?
The New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors 111–95, extending their winning streak against Toronto to 12 straight games.
How many points did Jalen Brunson score against the Raptors?
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points, helping New York secure the victory with strong offensive play.
How long is the Knicks’ win streak against the Raptors?
The Knicks have now won 12 consecutive games against the Raptors, a streak that dates back to the 2023 NBA season.
What does this result mean for the Knicks’ playoff chances?
The win strengthens the Knicks’ position in the Eastern Conference standings as they continue their push toward the NBA playoffs.
